Name: _______________________________
The
woman who can remember every day of her life
As
part of our series on extraordinary people, this week we find out about Rita
Howard, a woman with a very unusual talent.
What
was the weather like yesterday? What were you thinking about when you woke up
this morning? If someone asked you these questions, you probably wouldn’t find
it too hard to answer. But how about remembering the same information for this
date last year, or even ten years ago? Most of us find it easy to remember what
happened on the most important days of our lives, but soon forget the little details
of the other days, weeks, months and years. We often imagine that, without this
regular ‘forgetting’, our brains would be too crowded with memories and
thoughts. For Rita Howard, however, it’s as easy to remember a day thirty years
ago as it is to tell us about yesterday.
Rita
can choose any date from her 68 years and say where she was, what she was
doing, and what day of the week it was. For years, she had no idea that this
amazing memory was anything special. She was a hard-working student who always
did well at school. Then later she became a historian, a job where she had many
opportunities to use her ability to memorize all the facts she’d ever learned.
Even so, it was only six years ago, when she was in a research project, that
scientists actually told Rita she had hyperthymesia – an unusually good memory
of her own experiences. Only around 20 people worldwide have the condition.
‘People
began to imagine that I knew everything,’ says Rita. ‘Whereas, of course, I
only know everything about my own life!’ Another common idea is that Rita has
far more memories than everyone else. ‘In fact, we all have a similar number,’
she comments. ‘I’m just far better at finding and using mine than other
people.’
As
Rita reached retirement age, she wondered if her memory would get worse. Three
years later, however, it’s just as good as ever. ‘Will that always be the
case?’ she asks. ‘Who knows? I know all about the past, not the future!’
1 Which
two details does the writer give as examples of things that are easy to
remember?
_______________________________________________________________________________
2 What
kind of information do most people forget quite quickly?
_______________________________________________________________________________
3 How
old is Rita Howard?
_______________________________________________________________________________
4 What
kind of student was she?
_______________________________________________________________________________
5 What
did she expect to happen after she finished working?
_______________________________________________________________________________
/10
2) Complete
the sentences. Use the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1 Tod
_______________ (watch) TV at the moment.
2 The
sports hall _______________ (not clean) on Wednesdays.
3 Ella
_______________ (have) blonde hair, but now she’s quite dark.
4 He
_______________ (look for) a job next month.
5 What
_______________ he _______________ (find) when he opened the door?
6 She
_______________ (not go) out last night; she went home after work.
7 I
_______________ (go) to the USA five times. How about you?
8 When
we arrived, they _______________ already _______________ (leave) – the house
was empty.
9 They
_______________ (not listen) to the teacher at the moment.
10 _______________ you ever _______________
(see) a giraffe?
11 She _______________ (meet) her new boss last
week.
12 Happy anniversary! How long _______________
you _______________ (be) married?
13 I don’t think it _______________ (snow) this
week. It’s too warm.
14 He _______________ (cook) lunch when we
arrived, so we offered to help.
15 We left the cinema because we _______________
(see) the film before.
16 Pizza _______________ (make) with flour, oil,
tomatoes and cheese.
/32
3) Complete
the sentences with one word.
1 How
__________ bread do you eat?
2 I
__________ do the washing up now. I’ll do it later.
3 A
chemist’s is a place __________ you buy medicines.
4 A I don’t like Chinese food.
B __________ do I.
5 Put
__________ some shoes. We’re going outside.
6 We
walked __________ of the shop, because the music was too loud.
7 __________
it was a warm day, she wore a big winter coat.
8 I
went to Rome __________ learn Italian.
9 What
__________ you do if it rains this afternoon?
10 A Have you heard the news?
B No, not __________.
/10
4) Underline
the correct word(s) in each sentence.
1 You must
/ mustn’t listen to your teacher.
She’s trying to help you.
2 This is the best / better museum
I’ve ever visited.
3 This bike’s most / more expensive
than mine.
4 He’s eaten too many / too much
cakes, and now he feels ill!
5 You mustn’t
/ don’t have to wear a uniform at
work if you don’t want to.
6 You don’t do enough / too housework.
I have to do it all!
7 We had a boring weekend. We didn’t have anything / nothing to do.
8 You don’t
have to / should try on this
shirt. I think it’ll look great on you.
9 They might
/ must go to the beach tomorrow – if
the weather’s hot.
10 Wait! You walk more quickly / quicker than me.
11 Who did paint / painted this
picture? It’s great!
12 She said / told us she was
busy this weekend.
13 Walking / Walk in the
country makes me feel great.
14 If I didn’t have to, I won’t / wouldn’t go to that conference.
15 Have you finished that book yet / just?
/15
5) Complete the sentences with the correct word.
1 David
__________ me he wanted to get a burger.
told said
replied
2 We
__________ a really good time at the festival.
spent had
did
3 My
brother is my aunt’s __________.
niece grandson
nephew
4 Put
your lights on. We’re going to drive __________ a tunnel!
through under
across
5 The
opposite of crowded is __________.
clean safe
empty
6 Kate’s
really __________. She always gives me presents.
mean lazy
generous
7 Can
you turn __________ the TV? I want to watch the news.
on in
off
8 Is
he looking __________ to the party?
after for
forward
9 Those
jeans look nice. Would you like to __________ them on?
take try
wear
10 Enter our competition now! You could
__________ a great prize.
win
earn make
11 Our new school year starts __________ 5th
September.
in
on at
12 We haven’t got much money __________ we
aren’t going to buy the flat.
because
so although
13 He __________ on really well with his sister.
does
gets makes
14 I’m not __________ good at languages. I find
them difficult.
bit
quite very
/14
6) Complete
the sentences with the correct preposition.
1 Be careful when you jump __________ the
swimming pool.
2 I’m not sure if I can come camping. It
depends __________ my work.
3 Did you wait long __________ your train?
4 Harry’s worried __________ his driving test
tomorrow.
5 Leo fell in love __________ his girlfriend
soon after they met.
6 Can you pay __________ the tickets today?
7 Please write __________ me soon, and tell me
all your news.
8 What time did you arrive __________ school?
Were you late?
9 What music do you listen ________?
/9
7) Complete the sentences with one word.
1 Can you ______________ the dog for a walk?
2 I’m taking this watch _______________ to the
shop. It doesn’t work.
3 Work _______________ pairs to do this next
exercise.
4 Don’t run ______________ the road! It’s
dangerous.
5 Let’s ________________ Fred to the party on
Saturday.
6 Shall we _______________ surfing tomorrow?
7 Don’t _______________ so much noise! I’m
trying to study.
8 Write ______________ the words.
/8
8) Underline the odd word out.
1 fly
mosquito dolphin bee
2 palace
statue receipt castle
3 talkative
polluted crowded dangerous
4 sightseeing
ironing camping sunbathing
5 jeans
leggings tights gloves
6 funny
friendly kind safe
WRITING
Write
a short tourist guide for your favourite town (100–150 words). Write about
these things.
·
The location
·
The town’s history
·
The things the town is famous for
·
Activities and sights for tourists
·
The best places to eat and stay
·
Advice for a successful visit
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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